The Stowe Winter Carnival is this coming weekend, Jan 19 - 21. One of the things you should make a note to see there is the ice bar being built next to Stowe's best known bar/nightclub, The Rusty Nail. It is located on Route 108, also called Mountain Road, the main road from the village out to the ski area.

About 20 tons of ice blocks are being used to build the 25 foot bar plus ice tables and chairs, two person ice throne, and a liquor luge (whatever that is) all inside eight foot tall ice walls. This bar was inspired by the winter carnival ice bars of Quebec, the Canadian province that shares a border with Vermont.

Here is a link to the Stowe Reporter newspaper which last week featured a front page photograph of the ice bar under construction. This link will be outdated in a few days when the next issue of the newspaper comes out. If you would like to see how the Quebecois do it, go to this link about the amazing Ice Hotel in Quebec City.